About Me
Hello! I’m Jennifer
Trainer, Consultant, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Licensed Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor
I am a licensed clinical social worker and licensed advanced alcohol and drug counselor. I was the Program Director at the Mental Health Rehabilitation Center on the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital campus from 2000 to 2021. I provided staff supervision and training; oversaw and provided individual, group, and family treatment for adults with serious and persistent mental illness who also had problematic substance use histories; and co-developed the co-occurring disorders (dual diagnosis) program at the San Francisco Behavioral Health Center. I supervised social work interns for almost 20 years from UC Berkeley, SF State, and CSU Sacramento. I have provided in-depth training to clinicians providing services to youth and adults since 1991 and regularly train staff in mental health and substance use disorder programs throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. I particularly specialize in training on the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance-related disorders and motivational interviewing.
Previously, I was a therapist and supervisor at Edgewood Center for Children and Families in San Francisco and Seneca Center’s Therapeutic Foster Care Program and Day Treatment Program in San Leandro, CA.
I received my B.A in Psychology and Social Welfare at U.C. Berkeley and my M.S.S.W in Clinical Social Work at Columbia University.
My Approach & Values
Whether you come to one of my trainings or are seeing me for therapy, it is important to me that you feel like you feel ‘seen’, valued, and that you get what you came for regardless of or perhaps, depending on the situation, especially because of your gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability (hidden or visible).
If you are attending a training, I ensure that the training description and what I actually do in the training match, take time for questions and feedback, try to ensure that everyone understands the material as it is being taught by checking in with folks, and I include links to resources for additional reading at the end of each presentation. Additionally, everyone always has access to me after the training if they need any additional support or clarification about anything (I always welcome an email or phone call from folks who have attended my trainings – sometimes we have gone on to become great friends!)
If you are seeing me for therapy, my approach to treatment is to try to find something that works for you. I am trained in a variety of evidenced-based practices and will match what I’m doing to suit your needs and goals. Once we set goals in therapy, we will revisit them regularly to see if you are getting what you want and need out of our work together. If your goals change, then we will adapt accordingly. If you feel you are not making the kind of progress you hoped for, we will examine why and I will adapt my methods if we agree that is the best course of action.
My main imperative is that you start to feel better after a period of time and to begin living your life the way you want to. After all – isn’t that the whole point?
Training & Consultation
I do clinical consultation for agencies and clinical supervision for therapists who either need a supervisor to cover their pre-licensure hours or because their agency supervisor lacks a particular type of experience that I have (e.g. experience with addiction, harm reduction, motivational interviewing or working with clients who have schizophrenia). Again, in each case, my approach is to assess what is needed and to provide that service in the most warm, professional, and personalized way possible.
Contact Me
I'll be happy to help with any questions you may have.
You can reach me using this form, by phone, email or via my social media channels.
For the quickest reponse, please call or text:
415-873-9828